2025 Recipients
2025 Recipients
Spring 2025
Congratulations to the following recipients of our Spring 2025 CARE Awards, who were recognized during the college's annual Points of Pride event in October.
Classified
Cathy Senkfor, Administrative Services Associate, Cleveland
Cathy is highly valued at the Cleveland Campus for her warm presence, flexibility, and willingness to take on any task. She consistently demonstrates creativity and organization, offering ideas that improve efficiency and support both staff and students. Her contributions to CTAC are especially notable—she streamlines lab day operations, creates helpful resources for Standardized Patients, and ensures smooth administrative processes. Always dependable, proactive, and supportive, Cathy embodies teamwork and plays a vital role in keeping the campus running successfully.
Cassie Tritipo, Administrative Specialist, Athens
Cassie is celebrated as the backbone of the Department of Social Medicine and a vital contributor to HCOM as a whole. She supports multiple chairs, campuses, and faculty with professionalism and efficiency, while maintaining a positive and humorous spirit that uplifts those around her. Cassie streamlines processes, assists with promotion and tenure, organizes major events, maintains technology platforms, and even supports global health programs. Her dedication, creativity, and unwavering commitment make her indispensable to her department and the college.
Administrative
Marie Barone, Senior Director of Student Affairs, Athens
Marie has excelled in one of the school’s most challenging roles: facilitating the Committee on Student Progress. She supports students through the difficulties of medical education with empathy, kindness, and guidance, especially those who struggle along the way. Beyond her direct support, she actively and tirelessly advocates for quality improvements to ensure that our systems work in the best interest of students.
Sandra Lesesky, CTAC Coordinator, Cleveland
Sandy is recognized as an essential member of the Cleveland HCOM community, ensuring CTAC sessions run smoothly, efficiently and on time. Beyond her organizational skills, she provides invaluable support to students, offering calm reassurance before encounters and guidance afterward. Her strong clinical knowledge enriches students’ learning by connecting concepts to real-world applications. Always positive, dedicated and student-focused, Sandy goes above and beyond to support learners.
Faculty
Sarah Adkins, Associate Clinical Professor, Diabetes Institute, Athens
Sarah is an outstanding faculty member, not only deeply knowledgeable but also approachable and compassionate, which makes her a favorite among students. Her work restructuring the cardiovascular pharmacology activities in the Acute Block of our curriculum has improved the learning experience for our first-year students. Another of her significant achievements is the creation of Rising Suns Pharmacy, which is dedicated to providing accessible pharmacy services to residents in the rural, underserved area of southeastern Ohio. She is also a dedicated mentor and advisor to our students, always ready to explain a challenging concept, provide career advice, or simply offer encouragement. Through her efforts, Sarah has made a significant contribution to the culture at HCOM.
Jodie Foster, Professor of Instruction, Biomedical Sciences, Dublin
Jodie is praised as an exceptional professor who embodies compassion, support, and excellence in education. Students appreciate her ability to make complex material engaging and accessible, while fostering confidence and professional growth. Her dedication goes beyond teaching; she consistently invests in students’ success, offering them encouragement, guidance, and genuine care both inside and outside the classroom. By setting high standards and modeling integrity, Dr. Foster has a profound and lasting impact on the development of future physicians.
Fall 2025
Congratulations to the following recipients of our Fall 2025 CARE Awards!
Staff
Erin Bowald, MS, Associate Director, Learning Services, Athens
Erin Bowald is recognized as an invaluable, collaborative member of the department, admired for her expertise, sound judgment, and unwavering willingness to support both colleagues and students. She brings genuine joy to helping students succeed, taking time to understand their individual needs and guiding them effectively at every stage of their academic journey. Proactive and thoughtful, she consistently contributes well‑researched ideas that strengthen and enhance the work of the department.
Chris Vinyard, PhD, Associate Dean for Curriculum, Athens
His student nominators praise Dr. Chris Vinyard as an exceptionally dedicated advocate for the HCOM community, consistently listening with genuine care and engaging transparently with students at every level. They highlight his steady leadership during the dip in COMLEX Level 1 scores, his willingness to meet with students across campuses, and his role in strengthening standards, communication, and curriculum design. Through initiatives like enhanced board preparation, the Med Morph honors program, and accelerated exam review, he has earned students’ deep trust and gratitude for his unwavering commitment to their success.
Faculty
Mohammad Al-Sorkhy, PhD, Associate Professor of Instruction, Cleveland
Dr. Al‑Sorkhy is described as a deeply supportive and approachable presence for students, always willing to talk through academics or life with equal care. His openness, steady encouragement, and strong command of the material make him a trusted mentor. Students consistently feel heard, valued, and guided because of his commitment to being available whenever they need him.
Kelli Buckner, DO, Assistant Clinical Professor, Cleveland
Dr. Buckner is praised as a tireless advocate for Osteopathic Medicine, consistently inspiring 3rd- and 4th‑year students through engaging, real‑world teaching. Her ability to demonstrate how OMT can be seamlessly integrated into patient care has noticeably increased student enthusiasm. The nominator believes her influence has led to more future physicians confidently incorporating OMT into their practice.